Government

Town Councilors Will Be Able to Participate in Meetings by Video Conferencing

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The Town Council voted to allow members to take part in meetings remotely by linking in using video conferencing technology, but only under certain circumstances. Under the new policy, a Councilor may participate in a meeting if he or she has an acceptable reason and is able to hook into the meeting and see, hear and be heard by the other board members. Only one or a few members may participate remotely, said Councilor Ken Woodland, who presented the proposal Tuesday night. The board must have a quorum of members physically present at the meeting to hold the meeting, he said. In the case of the Council that is five of the nine members.

Entertainment

Four Watertown Artists Decorate Pianos for Art Installation Around Boston

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Four Watertown artists have original creations that will be displayed around Boston in the Play Me, I’m Yours art installation featuring 60 pianos decorated by 60 artists. Ruth K. Henry, Ryan Edwards, Olivia Natale and Dawn Evans Scaltero took part in the exhibition. In addition, the head piano tech for the project is Michael Wilson of Watertown. Sixty pianos decorated by 60 local artists and community groups are now available in public outdoor spaces in every Boston neighborhood and select Cambridge locations for the public to play and enjoy Sept. 23 to Oct. 10, 2016.

Department of Public Works

Council Changes Rules for Sidewalk Grass Strips, But Still Preferred

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The Department of Public Works will no longer be required to install planting strips when sidewalks are repaired or replaced. For years, the town’s sidewalk replacement ordinance had called for grassy area to be put in when sidewalks are replaced or repaired, but sometimes the strips became barren and would turn to mud, especially when the sidewalks are low enough for cars to park on. Councilor Angeline Kounelis said many people in her district town have complained about planting strips not working. “Residents in the East End have seen a tremendous impact with this policy,” Kounelis said. “Every time a panel (of sidewalk) is removed and replaced asphalt is removed and grass strips created.

Police/Fire

Watertown Police Arrest Man on Charge of Calling in a Bomb Threat

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Watertown Police tracked down the man who allegedly called in a bomb threat to a local worksite despite the suspect’s attempt to throw them off the track. 

On Sept. 26, State Police received a 911 call from a person saying there was a bomb at a building on Bridge Street, said Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor. Watertown Police were contacted and went to the address to evacuate the building, which is under renovation. State Police also provided the phone number from which the bomb threat came, and Watertown Police were able to identify the owner as a man named Lawrence Benjamin of Lowell. During the investigation, Watertown Police received a call from a man claiming he owned the cell phone.

Arsenal Street

UPDATE: Detours Coming as One Side of Arsenal Street to is Closed Road Work

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The westbound side of Arsenal Street will be closed on Friday, Sept. 30 while crews work on the road, and eastbound traffic will be detoured. 

The road will be milling the pavement (removing the top part of the roadway) on the westbound side from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., the contractor informed the Watertown Department of Public Works. “In order to expedite this work a temporary detour will be set up for the Arsenal Street eastbound traffic utilizing Irving Street, North Beacon Street and Louise Street,” the contractor wrote. “Westbound traffic along Arsenal Street will remain on Arsenal Street and rerouted around the work zone.” Several police officers will be in the area to assist drivers and pedestrians navigate the area. Buses will be allowed to travel along Arsenal Street and current bus stops will be maintained.

Around Town

Watertown New Poll Finds Residents Most Worried About Development, Traffic

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The local issues that concern Watertown residents most are development and traffic, a poll by Watertown News found. 

During the Faire on the Square, people who stopped by the Watertown News table had the chance to participate in the News’ Poll and vote for issues of concern. People checked one or more of the five issues:

Schools
Development
Traffic/transportation
Heroin/opioids
Property Taxes
Or, add their own write in issue

After tallying up the 49 ballots, the top issue was development, with 30 votes. This has been a big issue for several years, as big projects went up first on Pleasant Street and now on Arenal Street, with more coming (athenahealth’s Arsenal on the Charles and the Arsenal Mall). “Too much building on every inch of land,” a person wrote. Another said a concern is the “impact and damage to trees and green space” due to development.

Schools

See the Qualities the School Committee Wants the Interim Superintendent to Have

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Experience, good communicator and someone who learns fast are some of the qualities the School Committee is looking for in an interim superintendent. Monday night, the School Committee discussed finding a temporary head of schools until a permanent replacement can be found for retiring Superintendent Jean Fitzgerald. School Committee Vice Chair Kendra Foley said she would like to find someone with experience and is a good leader. “I do not just want the person to play a role of superintendent, but guide the community through the process of finding a new superintendent,” Foley said. School Committee Chairman John Portz agreed with the need for experience, because there is always a learning curve when a superintendent comes to a new community.

Elections

LETTER: Resident Urges Watertown to Vote for the Community Preservation Act

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Nov. 8 is fast approaching and it is time to make a commitment to vote yes on Question 5 – the Community Preservation Act. By not voting yes in 2005 we have lost $15 million that could have been used for historic preservation, parks and recreation facilities, and low income housing in Watertown. Our community has been contributing to the State Registry of Deeds which is the basis of CPA funding – but has received nothing in return. The surcharge on your tax bill is 2 percent of your real estate tax – $10 a month for the average household.